Reserves and related items in Nigeria
Nigeria: Reserves and related items was 5.00 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Reserves and related items in Nigeria, 1977–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
In 2025, reserves and related items in Nigeria stood at 5.00 billion BoP, current US$.
The figure is down 40.0% on the previous year and up 185.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, reserves and related items in Nigeria peaked at 13.89 billion BoP, current US$ in 2006 and was at its lowest, -10.52 billion BoP, current US$, in 2009.
That places Nigeria 16th out of 195 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Reserves and related items in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | -823.14 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1978 | -2.10 billion BoP, current US$ | +154.6% |
| 1979 | 3.20 billion BoP, current US$ | -252.5% |
| 1980 | 4.43 billion BoP, current US$ | +38.6% |
| 1981 | -4.99 billion BoP, current US$ | -212.6% |
| 1982 | -5.62 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.6% |
| 1983 | -2.89 billion BoP, current US$ | -48.6% |
| 1984 | -970.55 million BoP, current US$ | -66.4% |
| 1985 | -1.21 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.6% |
| 1986 | -1.06 billion BoP, current US$ | -12.4% |
| 1987 | -4.54 billion BoP, current US$ | +328.6% |
| 1988 | -5.13 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.0% |
| 1989 | -2.67 billion BoP, current US$ | -48.0% |
| 1990 | 1.04 billion BoP, current US$ | -139.0% |
| 1991 | -1.52 billion BoP, current US$ | -246.3% |
| 1992 | -5.64 billion BoP, current US$ | +270.2% |
| 1993 | -1.91 billion BoP, current US$ | -66.1% |
| 1994 | -1.94 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.4% |
| 1995 | -862.65 million BoP, current US$ | -55.5% |
| 1996 | -238.49 million BoP, current US$ | -72.4% |
| 1997 | 4.67 million BoP, current US$ | -102.0% |
| 1998 | -818.49 million BoP, current US$ | -17623.8% |
| 1999 | -3.54 billion BoP, current US$ | +332.2% |
| 2000 | 3.09 billion BoP, current US$ | -187.3% |
| 2001 | 222.71 million BoP, current US$ | -92.8% |
| 2002 | -4.69 billion BoP, current US$ | -2205.6% |
| 2003 | -1.26 billion BoP, current US$ | -73.1% |
| 2004 | 8.49 billion BoP, current US$ | -773.9% |
| 2005 | 11.34 billion BoP, current US$ | +33.5% |
| 2006 | 13.89 billion BoP, current US$ | +22.6% |
| 2007 | 8.96 billion BoP, current US$ | -35.5% |
| 2008 | 1.66 billion BoP, current US$ | -81.5% |
| 2009 | -10.52 billion BoP, current US$ | -734.8% |
| 2010 | -9.69 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.8% |
| 2011 | 305.85 million BoP, current US$ | -103.2% |
| 2012 | 11.10 billion BoP, current US$ | +3528.5% |
| 2013 | -980.10 million BoP, current US$ | -108.8% |
| 2014 | -8.45 billion BoP, current US$ | +762.4% |
| 2015 | -5.85 billion BoP, current US$ | -30.7% |
| 2016 | -980.92 million BoP, current US$ | -83.2% |
| 2017 | 12.24 billion BoP, current US$ | -1348.0% |
| 2018 | 3.29 billion BoP, current US$ | -73.2% |
| 2019 | -4.49 billion BoP, current US$ | -236.6% |
| 2020 | -5.05 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.4% |
| 2021 | 3.61 billion BoP, current US$ | -171.5% |
| 2022 | -3.38 billion BoP, current US$ | -193.7% |
| 2023 | -2.75 billion BoP, current US$ | -18.5% |
| 2024 | 8.34 billion BoP, current US$ | -402.6% |
| 2025 | 5.00 billion BoP, current US$ | -40.0% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 5.00 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 75.53 million BoP, current US$, 66.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 5.00 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 19.61 million BoP, current US$, 255.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Reserves and related items in Nigeria changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | -17623.8% | 4.67 million BoP, current US$ | -818.49 million BoP, current US$ |
| 2012 | +3528.5% | 305.85 million BoP, current US$ | 11.10 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 2002 | -2205.6% | 222.71 million BoP, current US$ | -4.69 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 2017 | +1348.0% | -980.92 million BoP, current US$ | 12.24 billion BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 92.57 million BoP, current US$ | -2.10 billion BoP, current US$ | 3.20 billion BoP, current US$ | 3 |
| 1980s | -2.46 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.62 billion BoP, current US$ | 4.43 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | -1.54 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.64 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.04 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.12 billion BoP, current US$ | -10.52 billion BoP, current US$ | 13.89 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | -351.86 million BoP, current US$ | -9.69 billion BoP, current US$ | 12.24 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 960.55 million BoP, current US$ | -5.05 billion BoP, current US$ | 8.34 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 13 Morocco 6.39 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 14 Romania 5.48 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 15 New Zealand 5.21 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 17 Bangladesh 4.79 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 18 Colombia 4.67 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 19 France 4.34 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Nigeria
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.04 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.32 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 1.19 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0041 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 5 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 4.01 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 148.16 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0138 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 16.86 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 13.91 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is reserves and related items in Nigeria?
- Reserves and related items in Nigeria was 5.00 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest reserves and related items recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 13.89 billion BoP, current US$ in 2006.
- What is the lowest reserves and related items recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was -10.52 billion BoP, current US$ in 2009.
- How does Nigeria rank for reserves and related items?
- Nigeria ranks 16th out of 195 countries with data for 2025.
- Is reserves and related items rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 185.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Reserves and related items (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Reserves and related items is the net change in a country's holdings of international reserves resulting from transactions on the current, capital, and financial accounts. Reserve assets are external assets, including monetary gold, that are readily available to and controlled by monetary authorities for meeting balance of payments financing needs, for intervention in exchange markets to affect the currency exchange rate, and for other related purposes (such as maintaining confidence in the currency and the economy, and serving as a basis for foreign borrowing). Reserve assets must be denominated and settled in foreign currency.Also included are net credit and loans from the IMF (excluding reserve position) and total exceptional financing. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.